Drawing Mickey at the Heavy Anchor

Sunday Sketching at Tower Grove Park

I have learned that it is best not to blend when sketching in pencil sometimes. It gives an unclarity if you do. It is best to put the lines down and let them be untouched with minimal erasing into with a gum eraser perhaps. This gives your lines strength clarity and purpose.

One other tip: Hold your pencil at it's distant end from the lead, if possible add a pencil extender, this  will make you use more energetic lines instead of fussing in details with a tight grip up close.

Museum Sketches

On Easter, most things were closed, but the Art Museum was open. I spent a few good hours sketching some sculptures at the museum. I drew a horse running, the ballet dancer girl, and a classical bust.

Drawing Stephanie at Marlene's

I am getting back to this blog after a bit of a break. This is Stephanie modeling for us at Marlene's studio. I am trying to use a more predictable technique lately. 

1. loose gesture in a few lines

2. drop in tone

3. add dark notes

4. revise contours

5. pull out hilights

6. finishing touches in mediating tones

In this second drawing, I skipped step 3 and didn't bother with steps 5 and 6. I felt like  I might have ruined it. Which makes me think about other thoughts I ave been having about being precious with things. This  is  contrary in a way to my thoughts. I almost am decided that I should keep the average ones, sacrifice the best and attempt too improve my average. The thing that is gained is in the mind after-all and not in the end product.

If we hold up the end-product too high with our admiration, don't we build a ceiling for ourselves? 

Mojo Magical Meetup

Drawing at Tower Grove Park

Sketches from Tower Grove Park

TGP

Drawing Kathleen at Matt's Place

10 minute digital sketches

2-5 minute digital sketches

Ebony pencil drawing

Ebony pencil drawing of Kathleen sitting

Ebony pencil drawing of Kathleen laying

Graphite Head Studies

Graphite Head Studies

Violet Lafaye - Graphite on Charcoal Paper

I said a bit ago that I wanted to try some traditional media again after all the digital stuff. Here is a graphite drawing. I should have done without the white highlights. It just didn't seem as bright as I would have liked. Next time I may choose a bit paler paper, or a darker charcoal. Somehow the range needs to be expanded a bit. It seems graphite doesn't lend itself to deep shadow areas as much as stick charcoal would.

Graphite on Charcoal Paper

Chad Posing at Tavern of Fine Arts

2 minute sketches

5 minute sketch

5 minute sketch

10  minute sketch

20 minute sketch

20 minute sketch

Pencil Portrait

It has been a while since I drew a self-portrait, and in pencil at that.I found myself wanting a broader pencil side.  The eye geometry is off a bit. Try again maybe?